Association between serum urate and CSF markers of Alzheimer's disease pathology in a population‐based sample of 70‐year‐olds

Abstract

IntroductionThe relationship between urate and biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathophysiology has not been investigated.MethodsWe examined whether serum concentration of urate was associated with cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers, amyloid beta (Aβ)42, Aβ40, phosphorylated tau (p‐tau), total tau (t‐tau), neurofilament light (NfL), and Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio, in cognitively unimpaired 70‐year‐old individuals from Gothenburg, Sweden. We also evaluated whether possible associations were modulated by the apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 allele.ResultsSerum urate was positively associated with Aβ42 in males (β = 0.55 pg/mL, P = .04). There was a positive urate–APOE ε4 interaction (1.24 pg/mL, P interaction = .02) in relation to Aβ42 association. The positive urate and Aβ42 association strengthened in male APOE ε4 carriers (β = 1.28 pg/mL, P = .01).DiscussionThe positive association between urate and Aβ42 in cognitively healthy men may suggest a protective effect of urate against deposition of amyloid protein in the brain parenchyma, and in the longer term, maybe against AD dementia.